Monday, November 27, 2006

After a couple weeks of brainstorming and extensive research, we are proud to bring you our top 10 goals in Penguins history.Please debate.And let's hope Dan Kesa's goal against the Maple Leafs in 99 gets a vote in the comments section.

We tried to go into insane detail for these. Don't ask me how I've retained all of the details over the years; I just have.

We've hooked you up with links to videos and audio clips.

So here we go...Our numbers 1, 2, and 3 are set in stone, but it's impossible to sit here and try to rank the rest.

While the Vice President was being held hostage in a private box, the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins played an enthralling Game 7 to decide the Stanley Cup championship.The biggest highlight of this game, besides a helicopter crashing onto the ice, was the story of Penguin goaltender Brad Tolliver. He was questionable coming into the game because he had the flu. He had to leave the game in the third period but came back a little while later to an immense roar from the crowd. He later made a save on a breakaway and proceeded to punch a Blackhawks player. He was given a game misconduct, and the Pens seemingly had no chance.With ten seconds remaining and the Pens down by one, Luc Robitaille is sprung on a breakaway. He releases the puck with 0.3 seconds left, and it goes in just before the buzzer.After a few minutes of overtime play, the game was suspended due to a terrorist threat. A victory in this game would have assured the Pens place as the dominant team in the 90's.

A fairy-tale ride to the Stanley Cup Finals saw the Penguins meet the North Stars, who annihilated the defending Cup champion Oilers in the Campbell Conference Final. The Penguins lost Game 1 of this series, which was in flow with the rest of their 1991 playoff run.

This Lemieux goal came in the second period of Game 2. I believe the score was tied at 1, with the teams at even strength. The momentum of the entire game shifted on this play, and the Pens used it to sail to a 4-1 win.Video: (1:45 mark) Look at Lemieux turn on the jets at his own blue line. Sickening speed.

After beating the Capitals in the first round of the playoffs, the Penguins now had to play the best team in the 1992 season - the New York Rangers.

The Penguins shocked everyone in Game 1, winning in New York. Game 2 saw Adam Graves deliver the slash heard 'round the world on Mario Lemieux. In that same game, Joey Mullen suffered a knee injury and would be out for the rest of the playoffs while Lemieux would be out until Game 2 against Boston.The Rangers came to Pittsburgh and won Game 3 (which was also the last game the Pens would lose in the playoffs that year).I remember watching Game 4 and thinking that the 1992 Penguins just didn't have enough to beat the Rangers. The Penguins were down 4-2 with 15 minutes left in regulation when they took a 5-minute major penalty. The vaunted Rangers powerplay took the ice, and everyone knew they were going to score and almost assuredly take a three games to one series lead.I remember the crowd cheering on the Penguin penalty killers for the entire five minutes and the wave of emotion that swept through the Arena every time we cleared the puck out of the zone. And right after the finals seconds ticked off the penalty, Ron Francis showed up. He blasted a slapshot from the blue line that got past Mike Richter and later scored in overtime to tie the series up at 2.[ Video ]

So, there were the Pens. Down three games to one against the Caps...going into Washington for Game 5. According to Against The Odds, the Pens devised their own version of the neutral zone trap before that game (called the 1-4 delay). The objective was to shut down the offensive defensemen of the Caps while making them dump and chase. It resulted in a 3-1 victory, sending the series to Pittsburgh. The Penguins had to come from behind in Game 6, with Lemieux tallying 2 goals and 3 assists in a 6-4 win.

Game 7: A tightly contested affair. Lemieux got the first goal, shorthanded. The Capitals later tied it. It stayed that way until the third period. On a powerplay late in the third, Francis squeaked it behind the net to Lemieux, who found Jagr in front of the net. Jagr backhands it past goalie Don Beaupre.Audio: Our recap of the moment does not do it justice. Listen to the Pens fans in attendance.

1995-96 saw the Penguins have 3 of the top 4 point-getters in the regular season. They ran away with the division title and had a juggernaut offense...bitch.

The 1995-96 season will always be on our list of what-ifs. Like, what if the Florida Panthers were called for penalties when they tackled Lemieux and Jagr right off the faceoffs.Anyway, the Capitals came into Pittsburgh and won the first two games of the series. Very interesting. The Penguins managed to win Game 3, which brings us to an emotional Game 4.The highlight of this game could have been a bunch of things. It could've been Lemeiux receiving a game misconduct for slashing Todd Krygier. It could've been Chris Tamer solidifying his spot in Penguins history as a goat for intentionally dislodging the net in the second overtime which led to a Joe Juneau penalty shot.The real goat turned out to be some guy who threw a beer onto the ice earlier in the game...on the exact spot where the puck bounced off Joe Juneau's stick on said penalty shot.Ken Wregget's performance in this game is the thing of legends.The Pens went on to beat the Caps in six, the Rangers in five, losing to Florida in 7.Video: One of the first videos I looked for when I discovered YouTube.

It just wasn't meant to be in what we thought was Lemieux's final season. We played the Flyers in the first round of the playoffs, and they had jumped out to a three games to none lead.

My birthday is in late April, and my jaw dropped when my dad presented me tickets to this game right before the playoffs started. I ALMOST rooted against the Pens in game 3, selfishly wanting to be at Lemieux's last game.I remember a few things about this game. Dan Marino was in attendance, Petr Nedved scored, and oh yeah, by the way, it was Joe Mullen's last game, too.We were all standing on our feet during the last three minutes of the game, chanting MARIO MARIO. You can feel it when you check out the video link below.What I remember most about this game was watching Lemieux on that final shift and suddenly, Ian Moran springs him on a breakaway. Being only 12 years old, and still tiny, I was getting ready to time my jump to see Lemieux's goal. But before I could, my dad sacrifices himself by lifting me up in front of him so I could see the entire breakaway while he maybe saw the footage on the JumboTron. It still gives me chills.Video: Mario Lemieux Delivers

The Penguins entered the playoffs this year as the eighth seed, forced to play the number-one seed New Jersey Devils in the first round. The Pens had no chance.

It looked to be true as the Pens were down three games to two, and down 2-1 with 3:00 left in Game 6. German Titov feeds Jagr a pass from behind the goal line and Jagr somehow gets it past Brodeur. The goal tied the game with 2:12 left. It sent the game into overtime.In overtime, Straka works his way into the Devils' zone and dishes a cross-ice pass to Jagr, who one-times it over Brodeur's extended left pad. Unbelievable. The goal catapulted the Pens to New Jersey for Game 7.The Pens managed only 13 shots in Game 7, but 4 went in. The biggest goal came with about 5 minutes left, and the Pens leading 3-2. Straka put in a Jagr rebound and proceeded to slide all the way to the Penguins bench. Straka always had the best OT-goal celebrations.NO AUDIO OR VIDEO

After a stirring 6-game Capitals series that ended on Marty Straka stealing the puck from Capital defenseman Sergei Gonchar, closing in on Olaf Kolzig, roofing it, and diving onto the ice, the Pens faced the Buffalo Sabres. We deprived you of the Jagr 1999 video, so here is that Straka OT goal.

The 2000-2001 season had Lemieux return to the NHL and help this talent-laden team go further than anyone thought was possible. This Buffalo series was crazy as hell, with the Pens winning the first two games in Buffalo...then proceeding to lose the next three. Facing elimination in Game 6, the Penguins were down 2-1 late in the third. Mario Lemieux scored on The Immaculate Deflection play to tie it, and Marty Straka (who else?) scored in overtime to force Game 7.Game 7 was a very timid affair. I remember Johan Hedberg standing on his head to keep the Pens in the game. I can't recall the Pens' first goal, but their second goal was scored by Robert Lang with about 8 minutes left, tying the game at 2. Overtime was next...where the great players step up.13:01 into the only overtime period, Darius Kasparaitis jumps into the rush, Lang hits him with a pass, and the lights go out on the Sabres' season.Video: There is nothing better than an away team scoring a playoff OT goal, as is proven with the exclamatory "Mmmeeeyyyaaahhh!!!!" (Pensblog friend Bryan Bell confirmed the spelling.)

If I started typing about the 1993 season and what should have been, my hands would fall off. I can't go into excessive detail, but this Penguins team was insane. Even the New York Islanders' coach said his team had no business beating the Penguins.

This Game 7 was gut-wrenching. It started out with Kevin Stevens breaking bones in his face as a result of delivering a huge hit on Islanders defenseman Richard Pilon. I'm not saying that was the reason the Penguins lost this game, but what happens if Stevens plays the rest of the game...After an Ulf Samuelsson goal, the Islanders scored 3 times (once on a Benoit Hogue slapper from the parking lot). Trailing 3-1 with about 7 minutes left, Ron Francis shows that he has a penchant for sparking comebacks against teams from the Empire State. He scores a goal on a quick tip-in on a nice feed from Larry Murphy.Later, with about 1:20 left, the Penguins pull Barrasso. Murphy deftly keeps the puck in the zone and sends a floating wrister to the net...a wrister just waiting to be deflected. Ron Francis gets his stick on it, and as it flutters toward goaltender Glenn Healy, Rick Tocchet makes a miraculous play by bring his stick down to redirect Francis' deflection into the net with exactly 1:00 remaining.Few goals have made the Mellon Arena erupt like that.The Penguins on the ice for this goal: Lemieux, Francis, Jagr, Mullen, Tocchet, Murphy.Video: Hate to kill you, but the only footage we have is the entire game highlights.

Why is this goal in this list? Does anyone even know what this goal looks like?

I sure as hell do.After Uwe Krupp broke my life the year before, the 1990-91 Penguins were the reason I existed. I watched and/or listened to every game as intently as a 6 year-old could. I didn't realize what was happening back then, but now I know that Stanley Cup runs are to be cherished. Looking back, this Recchi goal was huge.After losing the first two games in Boston, Kevin Stevens came out in the Boston papers and said the Pens would win 4 straight. No one gave the Penguins a chance going into the series, let alone being down two-nil. After the Pens dominated games three and four, the emotional game 5 took place in Bean Town. Barrasso was stellar, and the Pens cruised to a 7-2 win.Game 6: I don't even think I went to school on the day of this game because I kept throwing up on myself with excitement.The Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Pens fought back and tied the game at 2 before the third period.The third period was insane. I might catch some hell for putting Recchi's goal on this list, so I know for a fact that I would be tarred and feathered if I put Gordie Roberts' goal on here. It was early in the third period, and gave the Pens a 3-2 lead. The Arena erupted.Boston tied it up shortly thereafter...setting the stage.With not much time left in the game, the aforementioned Gordie Roberts gets the puck just past his own blue line to negate a two-line pass and hits Recchi with a pass off the boards. Recchi flies into the Bruins zone and executes his patented one-legged wrist shot. It gets past goalie Andy Moog.If you've ever heard Lange's call of this goal, you can tell by his voice how big it was.

The Blackhawks came into this series on an 11-game winning streak. Everyone was picking them to sweep the Penguins by using their hard-nosed checking style.

For most of the first period, it was looking that way. They were throwing their checks around and jumped out to an unbelievable 3-0 lead. Penguins fan were in shock while the rest of the NHL world expected this to happen.Towards the end of the first period, Phil Bourque came up with a huge powerplay goal.Early in the second, Chicago scored another goal to make it 4-1. It wasn't looking good.Watching the ebb and flow of this game, I doubt anyone expected what happened next...Paul Stanton directed a shot towards the net that Rick Tocchet deflected past the seemingly invincible Ed Belfour. Less than a minute later, Mario Lemieux performs the behind-the-goal-line, bank-it-off-the-goaltender's-leg goal to make it 4-3. Every person in Pittsburgh believed.The one thing sometimes lost in talking about this game is Tom Barrasso's performance in the third period, keeping this a one-goal game. He was making saves that he had no right making.With about 5 minutes left, Jagr scored the biggest goal of his young career. He maneuvered around 4 Blackhawks players before getting a backhand past Ed Belfour. The Arena was going nuts, and no one anywhere expected what we were soon about to witness.The Penguins had to kill a late penalty, which they did. After the penalty expired, a loose puck at center ice sparked Lemieux racing for the puck against Blackhawks defenseman Steve Smith. Smith, who was out for most of the powerplay, was dead tired and had to take down Lemieux to avoid a breakaway chance, giving the Penguins a powerplay.Everyone was already thinking about overtime when the Pens and Blackhawks lined up for a faceoff in the Chicago zone. And, of course, everyone in the place was standing...almost knowing something was about to happen.Ron Francis won the face-off and got it back to Larry Murphy. Murphy gets a quick shot off, Belfour uses his stick and right pad to kick the puck away...right onto Mario Lemieux's tape. Belfour lunges to the make the save, but Lemieux would not be denied.This goal essentially won the series for the Pens, who went on to sweep the Blackhawks.

Video: UnbelievableAudio: Mike Lange's call of the game's highlightsVideo: You can watch the entire game on Google Video

HONORABLE MENTIONS

1991 Patrick Division Finals: Washington Capitals - Game 2

Randy Gilhen Jumps Onto The Ice On A Delayed Penalty Call And Ties It Late

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comments:

I personaly like the 1991 Patrick Division Semifinals goal by Jagr just amazing i'd put that in at 9 or 10 but this list is extensive and great kudos to all of you for this and thank you haha its great...i know i speak for everyone with this

How clutch was jagr...the Mario goal against the hawks is the foundation of my sports life... I think about it almost everyday..I tried to lobby for Frankly Leroux pass to "Lucky" Luc in I believe 94 or 95.. I believe that was a game 6...

Derek, I was also surprised to not see Luc Robitaille's OT goal in 1995 against the Caps on the list - Frankie Leroux made a hell of a gamble but they wouldn't have won the series had he not jumped in the play, what a pass... and to verify, yes it was in 1995, but Game 5 in the Eastern Quarterfinal series.

There actually was a video on YouTube of Jagr's goals against the Devils in 1999 - if I can pull it up I'll re-comment with the link to the video, unless someone beats me to it (and if it happens, please do so!)

Because I intend to comment on a relatively frequent basis from now on, and i intend most of them to be usefull, I have listed my heavily used nickname of 'Gaundi' (a custom spelling)to be recognizable.

Anyway...

I have a couple issues I'll hit briefly here.

First of all, how come the the good old wrist shot goal by Kasparaitis on Hasek to beat the Sabres in double OT gets no love? ha

2) A power play can only get shots from between the blueline and and the goal line. In other words, when we are moving the puck slowly through the neutral zone and then dumping it behind the net, we eliminate any possability of getting off a shot on the rush (which the penguins are great at 5 on 5). It isn't gonchar's fault, but the system is just a bad one. The best powerplays carry the puck into the zone VERY fast and keep possesion throughout.

3) The Penguins are 7-1-3 Mon-Thurs and 3-7-1 Fri-Sun. I have hove noticed this trend over the last 2 seasons. Monday to Thursday the Penguins are a high playoff seed. However, friday through sunday, they are one of the worst teams in the league. It seemed strange last year, but I want a theory as to why this is.

Excellent work guys. Watching those painful, painful highlights from Game 7 in '93 is just another reminder that Barrasso shouldn't be the only scapegoat from that series/game... Ulf Samuelsson should be blamed as well. His horrible decision-making was just as costly as Barrasso's dirty diaper on that fateful evening...

me and adam had words about Lemieux;s goal against the North stars..but as chris was saying and Adam also mentioned.. it wasn't a clutch goal. Which I think can be debated, but in reality you cannot compare the goal to some of the others. I have been pushing for the Leroux goal.. thanks for clearing that up. I believe the Pens were down 3-1 in that series? Anyone know? and who did they lose to in the second round.. was that when the devils whenscored a jobber goal with 20 seconds left in like game 2 or 3...

i felt like the jagr goal against the leafs in 2000, marios first game back from retirement, 33 seconds in and on his first shift, 66 makes something happen, with the electricity in that building and that city that night, its a goal ill never forget...

Yeah, they were down 3-1 against the Caps and with that OT goal they went into Washington for Game 6 and lit up Jim Carey (the "Net Defective") and won 7-1.

Yup, with like 30 seconds left in Game 2 of the next round against the Devils, Scott Stevens shot one from behind the blue line, Wregget stopped it but let a Fleury-like rebound go to the slot and Stevens was there to put it in. Game, set, series.

I couldn't find Jagr's OT goal in '99 on YouTube, but found this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-IxJpVaDY8

Scoring off the rush on the power play can be a good thing, but it is a very risky and often ill-advised move to make. The whole reason teams set up on the power play and don't come into the zone guns ablazing is simple. We have an extra man on the ice, it only makes sense to pass around until you can find that open man.

All of this talk reminds me of the Zubov days and how every moron in Mellon Arena was screaming for him to shoot. Yes, shots on the power play are important, but it's also important to make those shots worthwhile. An ideal power play would be one that goes 5 for 5 every night with 5 shots on goal. It shows that your team is making the right decisions with the puck and working it until an open man is found. Sometimes, shooting from the point through screens and looking for rebounds is beneficial, but it is never the aim of a power play to step on the rink thinking that they're going to get a rebound goal from a shot from the point.

Power plays are structured to find open men in high percentage scoring areas, which the Penguins, like many other teams in the NHL, attempt to do. That being said, Crosby's return and a right handed shit to feed the puck to Gonchar would certainly lend themselves to us finding those open men and hopefully putting more pucks into the net on the PP.

Loved that Kasparitis goal. The best part for me was in the post game interviews he was telling everyone that he "owned" Dominik Hasek. Classic Kaspar moment.

Where is game 5? Wales Conference Finals, 1989 against the Philadelphia Flyers? In game 4, Lemieux gets knocked out after running into Randy Cunningworth. Game 5 Lemieux unexpectedly plays. This is vintage, pre-back problems Lemieux. Every goal in that game was note worthy. 5 goal performace by Mario including a wrap around where he pulled Hextall completely out of the net. And who can forget Hextall chasing Robbie Brown after he scored. Shame boys. Classic moments here... Any game where Ron Hextall tries to commit a felony on the ice should be included.

Great list. I loved the Recchi goal against the Bruins and I remember that game very clearly. The Roberts goal and the Lemieux empty netter from the half boards in our own end were both fantastic. I have trying to get my hands on a tape from that game for years. You should mention the Lemieux goal in Game 5 against the Caps in '92 when he scored that ridiculous backhand to forehand tuck around the goaltender to put us up by one. If anyone else remembers, we were up 2-0 then gave up 4 straight and then had goals from Mullen and Bourque before Lemieux won it in the 3rd. That win effectively ended that series.

Hey guys! great site...Ive just come to discover it...it takes me back...anyhow...after looking through this list I have found some footage of the goals you didnt have any for...here are the links....Ron Francis' Goal against the Rangers in the '92 Patrick Division Finals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkBetCrJTZwThis is a highlight reel of the whole game.

Here is the Marty Straka goal against New Jersey in the '99 Conf. Quarterfinals...its a highlight reel of his career...the goal is at the end... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ScGsQ0IjxI